Soccer: Wigan manager Roberto Martinez insists James McCarthy's contract talks have not stalled and expects the Republic of Ireland international to remain at the club.

Reports over the weekend suggested all might not be as rosy as the club might like to portray with regards to McCarthy’s future but the manager claims the speculation is baseless.

"We have been working really hard to give the players the rewards they have deserved, and as you can imagine James is one of those players," said Martinez. "I can tell you that negotiations have not broken down at all - these things just take time.

"But the talks are very much ongoing, and there will be a successful resolution. It's not as if he is in his last year - he already has a long-term contract here. It's more of a reward for the player than anything else.

"But these things come out in the national press, and sometimes you just can't reason why that is the case."

McCarthy has reportedly been tracked by Liverpool over recent seasons and even turned down a chance to join the Reds from Hamilton Academical in 2009 so he could see more first team action with the Latics.

He has scored just four goals in the Premier League since the move but has been one of Wigan’s best performers in that time.

Wigan kick-off the new Premier League campaign against Norwich on Saturday week.